Hello. I don't have a drum set, but I have a a midi keyboard and would like to create more realistic drum parts to my songs (especially after listening to the drums in Vai's Naked Tracks - I really want to get better at composing them.) So, can anyone recommend books that have helped you in this area?

my personal suggestion/way i learned on my casio keyboard when i was 13 is...watching lars ulrich play.i know what you're thinking LARS SUCKS PORTNOY IS GOD...fine...BUT lars does play very simply and realstically and you can see in many videos/dvds what he's doing clearly... esp s&m, cunning stunts, and liveshitbingeandpurge

from there i learned to play the parts on the recording on the keyboard and think i can play drums equaly releastically on real drums and on a keyboard

As a monkey-trained drummer,I'd like to suggest in some sort of order:

Decide on the feel for your hi-hat or ride.Is it fast? Slow? Straight 1/8 or 1/4 notes or does it have a particular rhythmic pattern?Do you imagine a fast hihat part played with both hands or just a single sticking...

Is your ride pattern the same as the hihat if/when you switch over to it?(Neil Peart of Rush has a classic ride cymbal pattern that I don't think I've heard other bands play, but half of the RUSH catalogue contains it.)

And just as imprtant--What is your bass drum doing?1/4 notes (barf)Without hihat or ride, try to play around with the bass-snare combo to invent your own beats.They can be slow and simple, then you can develop to be more technical or a deeper feel.

The snare drum:Do you want it just as on beats 2 and 4?Thats fine, its where most start out.

From there you can drop, wait, add, shift or speed up.(ie Here I Am on UltraZone --> Windows to the Soul)The developing pattern on Sex&Religion *song is super cool too...

When you get sick of normal 4/4try listening to:-Salamanders in the Sun for a Polka-ish feel-Touching Tongues-Under It Allthese may stretch your staff and sticks!